U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy is as ‘shut as ever’ to successful fifth main

Rory McIlroy returns to Pinehurst No. 2 this week for the 124th U.S. Open, 10 years after his final main championship triumph.

Before successful the 2014 Open and PGA Championships, McIlroy tied for twenty third at Pinehurst. But since then, McIlroy has come up brief at majors loads of occasions. He has 19 prime 10s, 9 prime fives, and three runner-ups. Those are nice finishes, however he nonetheless solely has 4 main victories.

“Getting my palms on a fifth main has taken fairly some time, however I’m extra assured than ever that I’m proper there, that I’m as shut as I’ve ever been,” McIlroy mentioned.

With two victories in 2024, McIlroy has gotten higher because the season progressed. At Valhalla for the PGA Championship, he tied for twelfth. Since then, he tied for twelfth on the RBC Canadian Open and posted one other tie for twelfth on the Memorial.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

This week marks his sixteenth U.S. Open begin. In his earlier 15 appearances, McIlroy made the lower 10 occasions. In his final 5 U.S. Opens, the Northern Irishman has turned in wonderful performances. He completed second a 12 months in the past after which tied for fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth within the 4 years prior. Before that, McIlroy missed three cuts in a row at this main.

“Explosiveness isn’t going to win a U.S. Open,” McIlroy mentioned.

“I’d say embracing the troublesome situations, the model of golf wanted to contend at a U.S. Open, and persistence. Embracing what I’d have known as ‘boring’ again within the day. Methodically constructing your rating over the course of 4 days and being okay with that. It’s extra reframing a mindset than anything.”

He has missed the lower at a serious simply twice within the final 5 years: the 2019 Open Championship and the 2023 Masters. Outside of that, he completed exterior the highest 25 solely thrice.

But his main drought continues to get older. Now at 10 years, the critics appear to be chirping louder than ever.

“I’m pleased with my physique of labor over the previous 15 years and all the things that I’ve achieved, whether or not or not it’s season-long titles, particular person tournaments or majors,” McIlroy added.

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

“I wish to win as many golf tournaments as I can. I wish to attempt to compete and win as many majors as I can. I feel the one factor about making an attempt to select a quantity is that you just’re setting your self up for failure or disappointment.”

McIlroy continues to be younger, so he believes he has loads of time to realize extra on the PGA Tour. However, altering his mindset in the previous few years appears to have made him extra appreciative of his profession.

“If somebody instructed me at 20 years outdated, I’d be sitting right here at 35, and that is the profession I’ve had, I’d not have believed them, and I’d have been ecstatic,” he mentioned.

“I nonetheless wish to suppose I’ve acquired a superb run forward. Whatever these numbers are, regardless of the totals add as much as, I’ll settle for that and really feel like I’ve completed fairly nicely for a bit boy from Northern Ireland who dreamed of taking part in golf for a residing sooner or later.”

For the primary two rounds of the U.S. Open, McIlroy will play alongside the 2024 PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler, who has gained 5 occasions already this season. The trio tees off Thursday at 1:14 p.m. ET and Friday at 7:29 a.m. ET.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You also can comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.